diff --git a/system/hardware/base.py b/system/hardware/base.py
index 16ed9621c1..31df1babe0 100644
--- a/system/hardware/base.py
+++ b/system/hardware/base.py
@@ -43,10 +43,6 @@ class HardwareBase(ABC):
   def get_sound_card_online(self):
     pass
 
-  @abstractmethod
-  def is_sound_playing(self):
-    pass
-
   @abstractmethod
   def get_imei(self, slot) -> str:
     pass
diff --git a/system/hardware/pc/hardware.py b/system/hardware/pc/hardware.py
index 2c83eb35f4..564f9e483a 100644
--- a/system/hardware/pc/hardware.py
+++ b/system/hardware/pc/hardware.py
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 import random
-import subprocess
 
 from cereal import log
 from system.hardware.base import HardwareBase, ThermalConfig
@@ -18,9 +17,6 @@ class Pc(HardwareBase):
   def get_sound_card_online(self):
     return True
 
-  def is_sound_playing(self):
-    return "RUNNING" in subprocess.check_output(["pactl", "list", "short", "sinks"]).decode('utf8')
-
   def reboot(self, reason=None):
     print("REBOOT!")
 
diff --git a/system/hardware/tici/hardware.py b/system/hardware/tici/hardware.py
index 8371d6ef70..b5f5e00410 100644
--- a/system/hardware/tici/hardware.py
+++ b/system/hardware/tici/hardware.py
@@ -96,9 +96,6 @@ class Tici(HardwareBase):
     return (os.path.isfile('/proc/asound/card0/state') and
             open('/proc/asound/card0/state').read().strip() == 'ONLINE')
 
-  def is_sound_playing(self):
-    return "RUNNING" in subprocess.check_output(["pactl", "list", "short", "sinks"]).decode('utf8')
-
   def reboot(self, reason=None):
     subprocess.check_output(["sudo", "reboot"])
 
diff --git a/system/micd.py b/system/micd.py
index 57700e5927..d0c661ee0d 100755
--- a/system/micd.py
+++ b/system/micd.py
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ import numpy as np
 from cereal import messaging
 from common.filter_simple import FirstOrderFilter
 from common.realtime import Ratekeeper
-from system.hardware import HARDWARE
 from system.swaglog import cloudlog
 
 RATE = 10
@@ -60,8 +59,7 @@ class Mic:
       sound_pressure, _ = calculate_spl(self.measurements)
       measurements_weighted = apply_a_weighting(self.measurements)
       sound_pressure_weighted, sound_pressure_level_weighted = calculate_spl(measurements_weighted)
-      if not HARDWARE.is_sound_playing():
-        self.spl_filter_weighted.update(sound_pressure_level_weighted)
+      self.spl_filter_weighted.update(sound_pressure_level_weighted)
     else:
       sound_pressure = 0
       sound_pressure_weighted = 0